Many thanks to Maureen Kinsey for writing the column last week and to all those who gave her news. Tending my sister in Vermont, who had a knee replacement, taught me a lot about trying to acclimatize to another family’s house and household routines, but I learned some things about what to expect from a knee replacement, and I enjoyed the beauty of Vermont, so different from the beauty of Maine. And thanks to my neighbor, Edee Crosby, who rode with me as navigator, a job I needed since we choose the scenic route rather than the Interstates, and she could visit her daughter while I played nurse.

We are so fortunate to live in a community whose size and openness encourages us to come to meetings at the town hall to listen to what others have to say and to voice our own opinions on the issue at hand. About 26 people came to the Southport Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 28 to consider and learn about Southport’s Climate Action planning being done by the Southport Climate Action Team ( Smith Climo, Kathy Jacobs, Ella Long and Claire Tomlin) with advice and help from Shri Verrill of Sunrise Ecologic, supported in this effort by a program in the Governor’s office of Policy and Innovation to “help achieve goals outlined in the Maine State Climate Action Plan titled “Maine Won’t Wait!” If a town completes the requirements, grants of $50,000 for one town, and $62,500 if two towns work together are available to complete the projects the town or towns names. Southport plans to work with Boothbay on this project.

The requirements are (1) to form a committee. (2) to complete a town evaluation as to what its needs are to become more resilient to climate change; (3) to review a community action list, and (4) to engage the community to prioritize actions. The committee has taken preliminary steps to meet the first three requirements. Having town meetings is the action taken to meet the fourth step. The next town meeting, which will take the form of a public workshop, will be Oct. 12 at the Southport Town Hall beginning at 6 p.m. Hope many of you will participate either in person or by Zoom, the link for which will available on the town’s website.

At the Sept. 28 meeting Kathy Jacobs, who has worked in this field for many years, showed a variety of slides outlining the research on climate change thus far. For example, one slide showed that temperatures in Maine have risen 3.5 degrees since the beginning of the 20th century, and the sea level risen has risen by 7-8 inches. The Gulf of Maine has warmed faster than 99 percent of the global oceans, causing the lobsters to begin to move north to
cooler waters. Both during her presentation and afterwards people were encouraged to ask questions, sharing their concerns and ideas. The basic theme is that communities are encouraged to be proactive in their thinking and planning for what seems to be the inevitability of a changing climate. Those of us in our older years may not see the full effects, but we may want to help the younger generations of our families in this task. As many of you know, here on Southport we have already had to move the recently built junior yacht club building to higher ground as the water in Cozy Harbor during storms was flooding the floor!

Another opportunity for community discussion will occur during three public meetings called to discuss short term rentals on Southport. On Oct. 16, 23, and 30, 2023 a series of public meetings will be held at the Southport Town Hall beginning at 6 p.m. A citizens committee was formed this fall to bring the community together to discuss the issue of short term rentals on the island (both owner present and owner absent). Now they want to hear the residents’ thoughts on the subject. The committee will act as scribes and report the residents’ thoughts back to the Town Selectmen in the form of a report. The Selectmen will then work with the Planning Board to see if the island’s land use ordinances need to be updated pertaining to this topic. For those who cannot attend in person, an online survey has been created to gather your thoughts on the issue - https://form.jotform.com/232644334029049.

If you are wondering what use is to be made of the stacked cement-looking, squares that have appeared across from Robinson’s Wharf, I am told they are office quarters for the Cianbro Company who will be working to repair the Southport Bridge.

Other dates to add to your calendar: Oct. 7, at the Southport Yacht Club, beginning at 1 p.m., bring a picnic to enjoy with friends and neighbors, sponsored by the Southport Island Association and the yacht club. In addition to your own picnic, you can enjoy cider, apples, and a choice of dessert bites. Rain date will be Sunday, Oct. 8 also at 1 p.m. Next up on Oct. 19 is the second flu shot clinic offered by Nathan’s Pharmacy at the Southport Town Hall from 3:30 until 5 p.m., again arranged by the Southport Island Association (SIA). And, of course, a Halloween Party on Oct. 31 beginning at 4 p.m. at the town hall, planned by the SIA. Plenty of time to get your costume ready.

Just one more weekend to have lunch at Cozy’s Harborside. They will be open Thursday through Sunday this coming weekend from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., but then closed until next summer season. You will still be able to find good food at Robinson’s Wharf every day from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. through October. The Southport General Store will also have food for us and other supplies on Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. and
Sunday from 9 a.m. until noon. The Barn will be open Thursday - Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. through noon.

About 14 people attended the Author’s Talk on Saturday, Sept. 30, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Southport Memorial Library. The presenting author was Anne Britting Oleson, who lives on the side of a mountain in central Maine, but has spent much time in England researching her books. A mother with three children, five grandchildren, two cats, and a high school English teacher, with eight completed books, she had many stories to tell and advise for fledgling writers. Five of her books are novels with the sixth one due out in March of 2023. One piece of advise she shared was “All words carry baggage,” meaning that you may have your thoughts as to what meaning you intend a word to carry, but others, bringing their personal experience to the word, may have other thoughts, so as a writer you must also listen to your words to assess whether the meaning you intend is as clear as you can make it. Thanks again to our friends at the library who arrange these presentations and also make delicious refreshments!

Folks who get their mail delivered to their homes have said “Thank you” and “good-bye” to Debbie, who has been their delivery person for some time. Her replacement began the route on Monday, Oct. 2.

We are very sorry to learn of the death of Dana Mulholland on Sept. 22, a long time Maine resident who moved to Southport with his wife, Jane, when he retired in 2010. Look for his obituary elsewhere in this newspaper.